Overview
- A large blaze broke out on Cottrill Gardens close to Hackney Central on Sunday evening and involved a static caravan, two cars and a grass embankment, with the first emergency calls logged just after 6pm.
- The London Fire Brigade sent eight engines and about 60 firefighters from Homerton, Leyton, Whitechapel and nearby stations and used its Drone Team to assess the scene.
- As a precaution crews isolated power to the nearby line, causing a suspension of the Mildmay Overground between Gospel Oak and Stratford, severe delays on the Weaver Line and disruption to Stansted Express services.
- The fire was brought under control at about 20:42, there were no reported injuries, nine people left two properties before crews arrived, and local damage included sheds, fencing and minor harm to two terraced houses and a garage.
- Lineside blazes commonly force immediate rail power cuts that can cascade into wider disruption, and investigators’ findings will determine when services fully resume and whether extra local safety measures are needed.